Masaka Cycling Club

A friend of a friend is helping grow cycling in Uganda.

They've done some amazing work already and they're looking for more cycling fans around the world to help sponsor further growth of the club.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqoeEmB9qE

https://www.masakacyclingclub.com/

Overland Archive podcast interview with Miiro Michael - Masaka Cycling Club, Uganda:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/12049863/ep19

Even if you can't donate to Masaka, Ross also produces a great podcast on less well-known athletes in a whole range of sports (lots of cycling, which is why I follow): https://thehiddenathlete.com.au/

They're doing a jersey run, hoping to sell 200 so they can commence the club house build as soon as possible. Pre-Order is open for 3 weeks only:

https://www.masakacyclingclub.com/jersey-fundraiser

Saw the article on cycling tips which is really good also. Definitely worth a read

https://cyclingtips.com/2020/07/is-e-racing-in-africa-a-game-changer-for-cyclings-diversity-problem/

Interesting article with respect to how one experience of 'other', can form a rule in your mind. I'm definitely guilty of that.

I'd not appreciated the uses of e-cycling either - I was wondering why they wanted turbos...

I hope I look fast in orange!

Interesting links, nice one for sharing.

cheers for the link. jerseys looks spot on can't wait for mine to arrive

Jersey pre-order closing on Nov 22

https://www.masakacyclingclub.com/jersey-fundraiser

Masaka CC foundation has posted. Anyone know how quickly parcels are arriving from Aus at the moment?

A few days, plus 7 months in post-Brexit customs black hole.

My jersey has broken free of customs, looks amazing. The fit is as advised on Masaka CC website.
There is another bulk order being prepared, cut-off 28th Feb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvAPPEF_stg

See segment in here at 12:35 about Team Amani, working with Masaka and doing similar things. Part two of the film drops on Monday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NxqCiSP7qs&t=763s

Cool. Bookmarked that cafe too if I'm ever back in The Hague.

Part two here at 19:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbiGZWIW4sk

"ABDULLAH ZEINAB - 24Hours for $24,000
Holy Moly this campaign was intense. Ambassador Abdullah Zeinab embarked on an aggressive campaign to raise $24,000 to continue and finish the above Clubhouse build. We were sitting on $19,000 going into last weekend's 24hour World Record attempt, Sadly Abdullah didn't achieve his World Record goal but what he did do is raise a further $10K through his incredible supporter network in three days to take his campaign tally to AUD$29,000....freaking MIND BLOWING!!!!! There was however heartbreak and loads of tears when the great man knew he could achieve his World Record goal. Check out this awesome clip from the day and look forward to his repeat attempt in January 2022."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xag7jyvkGh8

Just seen Galibier are providing the kit for Masaka now? Pretty cool

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/i-just-kept-on-fighting-until-they-burned-me-out-in-the-legs-ugandan-cyclings-great-hope-on-his-world-championships-debut

Hi everyone.....some crazy positive stuff happened throughout 2023 and loads to look forward to in 2024. Thank you to each and every one of you for your perseverance and willingness to ride all the lows so we have opportunity to share some of the incredible highs. You are part of something truly unique and we hope you can feel proud of your involvement.

Nakagwa Florence
I can officially share with you that Florence has signed a professional road contract for 2024. She will be racing for one of the highest profile women's pro setups (can't quite tell you who yet) in their development feeder team at Pro Continental level. She will be based in Girona Spain for all of 2024. We have a few more VISA hoops to jump through to get her there but all going well Florence will become the first ever female Pro Road Cyclist in Uganda's history. This is an incredible story given Florence wasn't even riding a little over 3 years ago. The upside is massive and she is working really hard to make sure she takes advantage of this opportunity. In additional to this contract news, Florence has also secured some important funding from CyclistsAlliance.org & STRAVA to help her on her professional journey. This is a personal story of many ups and downs and one you have all been heavily involved in. A dream come true and congratulations to all.

Biyinzika Davis (19) & Kamya Richard (18)
These lads are simply stars of Ugandan cycling....and still at a very young age. Both are now deep into the UCI World Cycling Centre Development Program https://www.uci.org/world-cycling-centre-south-africa-details/1njX2tcETtL7yfqV66k57a and are impressing. We are receiving very positive feedback from the WCC and they will both be back inside that program very early on in 2024. Your donations go towards funding flights for these lads to attend the camps in South Africa. This program is a structured program acting as a feeder system into pro cycling ranks. Only Africa's best young talent receive an invitation so it is phenomenal Davis, Richard & Florence are from our humble little program and well on their way to being noticed. Davis and Richard also raced a local memorial race in Uganda on the weekend and both finished on the podium again after a huge breakaway. We are attempting to mobilise the Ugandan Cycling Federation (Ugandan's cycling governing body) to include these two youngsters in a National program that takes these kids to UCI Rated African events. Its proving challenging but we will hopefully get some cut through very soon. Check this out: https://youtu.be/U_gxNdz_VUY?si=kC_7YcOB1EWUvjs4

Nantume Miria (17)
We are in love with this young lady. A beautiful soul, highly coachable with so much natural leadership. Miria showed incredible talent as a junior finishing Top 10 in the open age category of the Tour of Burundi as a 14 year old. We gave her the space she needed to finish her schooling and now we have her back in the fold all guns blazing. The World Cycling Centre are keen to get their hands on Miria so Coach Owen is in the midst of nurturing her fitness levels up to an adequate level to hopefully pay them a visit in January next year. Now Florence has successfully flown the coop our focus will switch to Miria over the next couple of years. We have also awarded Miria with a mechanics scholarship which tops up her cycling scholarship so she can take care of her mum and brother. Your donations go towards funding all these scholarships and flights to the WCC to help her dreams come to reality. You have probably seen this video many times but just in case you missed it....this is Miria: https://youtu.be/BYU64CFUVII?si=abtAI5tSOCpj7H09

Opening of the new SERK Cycling Workshop
What more can we say about this crew in Beijing. Holy Moly. We have some incredible partners and they just keep fighting and fighting for these kids. SERK Cycling http://www.serk.cc built a workshop extension and purchased a 150 piece professional tool set that will help us turn this workshop into the best in Uganda over the next twelve months. Our next goal is to send Coach Peter to professional Accredited Mechanics training, hopefully at UCI HQ in Switzerland so he can not only develop our maintenance program but also start his professional cycling journey into the world of mechanics. We need loads more professional mechanics scattered throughout the continent to help advance the sport. Check out the workshop opening day: https://youtu.be/OIS8NyQ7PzE?si=ZbMwuXdaeu0f5rhM

We have a new Motor Bike thanks to CURVE & RHINO RUN Participants
See attached image. curvecycling.com is another one of our long standing partners who just keep fighting for these kids. We approached CURVE with a safety dilemma and asked that they consider looking at funding a motorbike to help keep our riders safe when out training. Well that came to reality in November. CURVE are the race organisers for the RHINORUN Ultra Endurance Race in South Africa & Namibia and they ask all participants to contribute an entry fee to to go towards advancing our program. The result is this ripping motorbike (they call them Bota Bota's). Coach Peter can now go training with the riders to ensure they are executing Coach Owens instructions but also act as a sweep with warning lights to protect the riders from traffic. Road traffic can get pretty crazy in Africa at times so this is a huge break through and a welcome addition to the training program. Thanks to the whole CURVE Family and all Rhino Run Participants.

Sustainability Plan
This is very exciting. The infrastructure will be 100% set up ready to go before Christmas. We will put together a clip once fully implemented. 10 x Investors contributing collectively AUD$30,000 to set up a sustainable and certified Coffee Seedling & Eucalyptus Seedling business that will generate approx. AUD$75-$100K per annum within two years. The investors will run the project, dedicate most of the profits to the club and also reinvest in growing the business. Additional land purchases will be needed to grow to our revised goal of AUD$150K p/a. This will be an investor led program with Masaka Cycling Club as the beneficiary. Miiro (Chairman of MCC) will be consulted every step of the way and his team (Aisha & Coach Peter) will assist on the ground where necessary. We are trying to keep this business at arm's length to the club to protect income generating initiatives and growth decisions. You will notice in the balance sheet a loan outstanding to these investors.....just know all 10 have been carefully selected and are in no rush to be repaid so we have loads of time to build out this business plan.

Financials - November 2023
Nothing too exciting to report but as usual.....please always drop me a line if you are curious about something. The Other Income in November mainly relates to the CURVE transfer for the motor bike and the transfers to Uganda look significant because they are the investor transfers for the above sustainability plan. We are always on the lookout for new monthly supporters so maybe purchase a loved one a "doing good" Christmas Present. Cycling fans would especially love to connect with the project. We now have 5 years of proof that this small collective monthly contribution is a unique gift that has a long lasting impact on these kids https://www.masakacyclingclub.com/support Or maybe even consider a jersey which would be super cool. Be like Florence, Davis, Richard or Miria. 100% of all proceeds from these jersey sales are donated to us by galibier.cc https://www.masakacyclingclub.com/jersey

Thank you for an awesome year everyone. What you have achieved in 5 short years is phenomenal. Eyes are now on our program.....so....as we enter our 6th year we ask you to please keep up the fight and lets create more history together for these incredible young athletes.

Ross, Miiro & Board
Masaka Cycling Club Foundation

https://www.serk.cc/firecracker/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Z97oxSyAp/

I've a couple working garmins. Don't do Instagram. Whats needed?

Thanks for reading and considering donating your old bike computer.

If you have a perfectly good working device in the bottom of your bike box that you would love to send to Uganda to help us connect one of the young new riders to Coaches, we would love to support you with that wish.

Please send to: Ross Burrage, 62 Wandana Drive, Wandana Heights, VIC, 3216, AUSTRALIA and we will hand deliver for you in April

Ta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu9uo3kUVOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jazz186SvI4

Hi all,

I noticed a post this week asking for equipment. I will be visiting Kampala with work in September and have a bunch of stuff sat in a storeroom that would be suitable to donate that I will take over in a box. Ross has stated they have people who can meet me in the city. They have asked for parts like 9/10/11 sp front and rear derailleurs, cranks, cassettes, hangers etc. I will also be taking quite a few jerseys that I bought pre-covid, barely wore, and then got too fat for!

If anybody has anything they would like to donate, I will be in the UK (Glasgow/Leicester/London) in June and then again in August, so could meet or perhaps pick up post if easier.

That's pretty cool. I've asked before about donating stuff, like a couple of bikes I have in Oz, but he says because the border control is corrupt a lot of stuff never makes it so it's best to go direct or to wait until they have a massive container going.